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Boston Bruins: Tim Thomas heads to US Hockey Hall of Fame

By jc |
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins, former NHL player Tim Thomas, former NHL player Brian Gionta, Olympian Krissy Wendell, Fort Dupont Ice Arena Founder Neal Henderson, and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals take part in a ceremonial puck drop honoring the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins, former NHL player Tim Thomas, former NHL player Brian Gionta, Olympian Krissy Wendell, Fort Dupont Ice Arena Founder Neal Henderson, and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals take part in a ceremonial puck drop honoring the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins, former NHL player Tim Thomas, former NHL player Brian Gionta, Olympian Krissy Wendell, Fort Dupont Ice Arena Founder Neal Henderson, and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals take part in a ceremonial puck drop honoring the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins, former NHL player Tim Thomas, former NHL player Brian Gionta, Olympian Krissy Wendell, Fort Dupont Ice Arena Founder Neal Henderson, and Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals take part in a ceremonial puck drop honoring the 2019 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class at Capital One Arena on December 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Boston Bruins legend Tim Thomas reunites with teammates as he officially enters the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

Boston Bruins fans got quite the surprise before Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Capitals. Bruins legend Tim Thomas was part of the ceremonial puck drop in recognition of this year’s US Hockey Hall of Fame class.

Safe to say everybody was excited to Thomas again on the ice, especially alongside some of his former teammates. Many of us had not seen Thomas since he retired from the NHL after the 2013-2014 season.

Thomas spoke to the media on Thursday and detailed why he was out the public eye for so long. He revealed that he suffered a concussion while a member of the Florida Panthers that really impacted his post-playing career.

Thomas was emotional as he described his struggles. He talked about depression, and he mentioned how he couldn’t keep in touch with hockey or his teammates. This was the first time anybody heard about Thomas’s struggles, and it was tough to hear everything with which he dealt.

As you listen to Thomas go over his battle, you can’t help but feel sadness and fear. Head injuries are one of the worst parts of pro sports, despite how the NHL handled them in the past.

Fortunately, Thomas was in better spirits this week for his well-earned call to the US Hockey Hall of Fame. He described how excited he was to see some of his old Bruins teammates on Wednesday.

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Words can’t describe awesome it was to see Thomas with some of his teammates, particularly once we learned about his post-career struggles.

Every Bruins fan knows how important Thomas is to this franchise. His incredible 2010-2011 season is the best season any goalie ever had. Period.

Thomas led the league in goals-against average and save percentage. He had 35 wins in 55 starts, enough to earn him his second Vezina Trophy.

Then, Thomas followed up his incredible season with an unforgettable playoffs. He once again led all goalies in goals-against average and save percentage. He took home the Conn Smythe, and most importantly, he and his Bruins teammates won the Stanley Cup.

Again, no goalie in NHL history ever had a season that was better than Thomas’s. And honestly, no goalie ever will.

All in all, Thomas won 196 regular season and 29 playoff games for the Bruins. He won two Vezinas, one Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Stanley Cup.

Add that to everything he achieved with Florida and Dallas, and it’s no surprise he earned the US Hockey Hall of Fame nod.

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Tim Thomas will always have a special place in the hearts of Bruins fans. It was so tough to hear him talk about his post-career battles, but it’s great to see that he’s in a better place now.

Let’s hope the Bruins honor Thomas at some point in front of the home crowd so he can get another standing ovation that he most certainly deserves.

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